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A controversy is brewing over whether the United States should break tradition and dip the American flag at the opening ceremony Friday night for the London Olympics-- despite the fact that doing so would violate US Flag Code.
Scott Blackmun, the CEO of the United States Olympic Committee, told Reuters they were discussing the matter internally.
"We've talked about that a little bit and you never know what is going to happen," Blackmun told the news agency.
But later a spokesman for the USOC sent Fox News a statement calling the Reuter's report "not accurate."
"We have made an official recommendation to the athlete, not to dip the flag," the spokesperson told Fox News. "We have also spoken to the athlete advisory committee and they are in agreement."
"We have traditions, Britain has traditions, everybody has traditions," Blackmun said in remarks covered by Reuters. "It is not an issue that we see as a big issue."
But Mike Buss, deputy director of the American Legion, said it is a very big issue.
"No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States," he said reading from the U.S. Flag Code. "The flag should not be dipped to any person or thing."
He said he believes dipping the American flag at Friday¹s ceremony would be un-American.
"There are many patriotic Americans who would say it is a big deal," Buss told Fox News. "You don't dip the United States flag to honor other countries."
Buss said it¹s the law * federal law * although there are no civil penalties for breaching flag etiquette.
"The bigger issue is people don't understand there are rules and regulations for proper display of the flag," he said. "Maybe the USOC didn't realize this is an issue."
Scott Blackmun, the CEO of the United States Olympic Committee, told Reuters they were discussing the matter internally.
"We've talked about that a little bit and you never know what is going to happen," Blackmun told the news agency.
But later a spokesman for the USOC sent Fox News a statement calling the Reuter's report "not accurate."
"We have made an official recommendation to the athlete, not to dip the flag," the spokesperson told Fox News. "We have also spoken to the athlete advisory committee and they are in agreement."
"We have traditions, Britain has traditions, everybody has traditions," Blackmun said in remarks covered by Reuters. "It is not an issue that we see as a big issue."
But Mike Buss, deputy director of the American Legion, said it is a very big issue.
"No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States," he said reading from the U.S. Flag Code. "The flag should not be dipped to any person or thing."
He said he believes dipping the American flag at Friday¹s ceremony would be un-American.
"There are many patriotic Americans who would say it is a big deal," Buss told Fox News. "You don't dip the United States flag to honor other countries."
Buss said it¹s the law * federal law * although there are no civil penalties for breaching flag etiquette.
"The bigger issue is people don't understand there are rules and regulations for proper display of the flag," he said. "Maybe the USOC didn't realize this is an issue."
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